hotelclub.net

illuminate

OK.... before I start, this is just a warning..... I'm not screaming "rip-off" here.

Had reason to book a hotel room online via hotelclub.net. Its not something I do on a regular basis, and it had to be done in a bit of a rush due to circumstances.

Nevertheless before clicking on confirm I checked the T&C as I knew that I might need to cancel.

Their T&C stated that cancellation charge would be £10 after the accomodation voucher had been issued or what was quoted by the hotel itself.... whichever was worse. The hotel's T&C were not quoted on the hotelcub website, so I now had to chase around the internet, find the hotel and trawl through their website also.

So thats 2 lots of T&C, read and the hotel state that they don't charge for rooms cancelled more than 48 hours prior to the first night of stay.

Right so now I know that the cancellation charge that will be applied is that quoted by hotelclub themselves. A tenner..... or so I thought.

I confirm the booking..... then a second confirmation is required.

This asks me to accept a third set of T&C and poorly worded ones at that....

I also accept the cancellation conditions as shown below:
# Cancellation fee of DKK 125 if you cancel after the confirmation voucher has been issued.

# No Facilities (Breakfast Included) - Double: DKK 473.20 cost if you cancel 2 days(s) prior to checkin date or later
or if you fail to arrive at the hotel;
or if you checkout early.
The cancellation fee of DKK 125 (equivalent to GBP 16.62*) will NOT be charged in this case.
* amount quoted at today’s exchange rate. Subject to exchange rate fluctuation.

Now I read that as meaning that If I booked a double room with no facilities, as I had done, then the cancellation fee would not be applied. Fine I thought .... clicked confirm.

Now having re-read the above I accept that I've mis-understood it.... or have I ?...

Accomodation voucher is issued immediately by return email so no breathing space there either.

As I suspected ..... I had to cancel and have duly had £16.62 taken from my credit card.

What a labourious process to book a hotel room. 2 sets of T&C required to be read, one of which I had to find myself.... a third one then appears at the last minute.

.... and its cost me £16 to cancel a room within 30 minutes, I had booked 8 weeks in advance. Marvellously convenient, simple and cost-cutting process.

I learnt ages ago that cutting out the middle man was always the best choice when available..... should have done the same with the hotel.

Cheers hotelclub.net.....account duly closed.

illuminate

oh aye..... they also bill your credit card immediately.

Unlike the previous other internet booking sites I've used, where I was only billed upon checking out of the hotel.

CrazyIndianZA

Seconded..just had a bad experience with them which has left me without a hotel room!